Gat Andres Bonifacio: The Anti-Colonial National Hero of the Philippines (Bonifacio Series I)

Every November 30, the Philippines celebrates Bonifacio Day to commemorate the birthday of the Father of Philippine Revolution, Andres Bonifacio y de Castro. The second foremost figure in the Southeast Asian country's pantheon of heroes, he is in fact regarded by Filipino nationalists more highly than the only one other, but 'more official' national hero,* Jose Protacio Rizal, who is criticized as having been an "American-sponsored hero" chosen by the United States colonial government over the "too radical" Bonifacio and the 'Sublime Paralytic' Apolinario Mabini...XXXX

Surviving official letterhead communications dated 1897 point to Bonifacio's various designations that include being the "Supreme President, Government of the Revolution." Perhaps the most telling proofs come from non-partisan sources of the period. Nineteenth century Spanish historian Jose M. del Castillo, in his 1897 writing "El Katipunan" or "El Filibusterismo en Filipinas," describes the first national elections in the Philippines from which Bonifacio emerged as the President, and Plata, Jacinto, del Rosario, Pantas and Pacheco as cabinet officials. This is corroborated by the February 8, 1897 issue of the international publication "La Ilustracion Espanola y Americana" in its article about the Philippine revolution and which featured an engraved portrait of "Andres Bonifacio, Titulado 'Presidente' de la Republica Tagala,"**** clad in a dark suit and white tie.....

The revolutionary leader was Andres Bonifacio y de Castro, murdered May 10, 1897 in a remote moutain in the archipelagic islands the hero called the Haring Bayang Katagalugan (Sovereign Nation of Katagalugan). The name "Katagalugan," derives from"Tagalog," which is a constriction of the word "taga-ilog" that translates as "(person/people) from the area along the river," or simply, riverine. The hero's treacherous execution marked not only the elite takeover of the revolutionary mass movement he built but, as well, the adoption of a colonial name for his country well past into its independence period until today. Tagalog was junked and the old name given by Spain after its king, Philip II, stuck. Called "Las Islas de Filipinas" by Spain--a name favored even by its other elitist heroes--or "Philippine Islands," by its next colonial master, the United States of America, it is now called the Republic of the Philippines....

The Devaluation of a Hero & Promotion of a Counter-Hero: Where's Andres Bonifacio in the P5 Coin? (Bonifacio Series III)

Noble Courage

At any rate, that Bonifacio is the "Father of Philippine Revolution" is undisputed, and his courage legendary. During World War II, his name even was even used by American propagandists to inspire anti-Japanese resistance. His persona was even adopted as a strong theme in the Hollywood World War II movie, "Back to Bataan," which starred John Wayne and Anthony Quinn.

"Mabini supports his reading of Bonifacio's killing being criminal with a number of points:

- Bonifacio had no less schooling than any of those elected in the aforesaid assembly" and has even exhibited "an uncommon sagacity in organizing the Katipunan."
- All the electors in the Tejeros Convention "were friends of Don Emilio Aguinaldo and Don Mariano Trias, who were united."
-"Bonifacio, although he had established his integrity, was looked upon with distrust only because he was not a native of the province". - Despite Bonifacio's resentment, "he did not show it by any act of turbulent defiance, for, seeing that no one was working for reconciliation, he was content with quitting the province for San Mateo in the company of his br...

Itong
pagbuo ng panghimagsikan o rebolusyonaryong pamahalaan na ito ang
basehan ng isang artikulo sa isang Kastila-Amerikanong lathain kung saan
itinanghal ang isang imahe ni Bonifacio na may titulong "'Presidente'
de la Republica Tagala." Moreover, the election in the newly formed
Katipunan national government called the Katagalan Republic was also
recorded in a 1897 work by Spanish historian Jose M.del Castillo.
Writing in his "El Katipunan" or "El Filibusterismo en Filipinas,"
Castillo reiterated the electoral results of what was, in effect, the
very first national elections in the Philippine archipelago.

Masyadong MAALAM si Supremo Andres Bonifacio y de Castro kung kaya't kita nito agad ang plagiarismo at gaya-gaya. In December 1896, he rejected future Gen. Edilberto Evangelista's proposal for the Katipunan to adopt a constitution because it was so similar to one made by a Spaniard.

27/28 April 1897 - The Supremo and brother Procopio are treacherously abducted by the forces of Bonzon and Paua … Bonzon shoots the Supremo in the arm. Paua then moves to kill the Katipunan Supreme President by stabbing him in the throat with a dagger but one of Bonifacio’s men plead that his life be taken instead. [According to Julio Nakpil, it was Lazaro who stabbed the Supremo].

The Liga Filipina was short-lived. On 6 July, Rizal was arrested and detained upon the orders of the Governor-General Eulogio Despujol. Two weeks later, he was sent to Dapitan, Mindanao, where he lived in exile for four years."

Patriot Jose Mercado Rizal inspired Gat Andres Bonifacio y de Castro and the rest of the revolutionaries. Thing is, we should not forget that he disapproved of the 1896 revolution. Imagine if the Supremo did not do what he did? No Philippine Revolution. Kung nagkataon, the imperialist Bald Eagle nation had all the right to call us "insurectos" & colonized..

We credit and laud Supremo Bonifacio for organizing and strengthening under very difficult colonial circumstances the Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK), that noble society that aimed to liberate the country from the yoke of Spanish colonization.

Rizal provided a great inspiration for a nationwide assertion of independence. Bonifacio gave national life and force to Rizal's "filibuster" Elias character. Gat Rizal was being prudent disowning the Philippine Revolution of 1896. Supremo Bonifacio had the incredible historical foresight to push through with it despite initial lack of arms.

How Bonifacio, who would still work with the La Liga until its disbandment, even becoming its chief of propaganda owing to his effective personality and communications skills, initiated and powered the Philippine Revolution is perhaps well seen in his speech on that fateful day of the KKK founding. The speech Bonifacio delivered so convinced his co-founders to establish the revolutionary organization, as follows: